Stoke boss Paul Lambert: VAR ‘teething problems’ to be expected

Stoke City manager Paul Lambert says ‘teething problems’ are to be expected with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

The Scotsman shared his views on the new controversial system in a news conference at the bet365 Stadium.

“I saw the incident on Wednesday night [in Tottenham’s 6-1 win over Rochdale]and I thought it was wrong. I thought it was far too long and people were standing about. The players and managers were wondering what was going on.

“I think you’re going to get teething problems with it because it’s the first time VAR has been introduced. I saw Bayern play Bayer Leverkusen in Germany and it worked fantastically well.

“If it takes as long as it did in the Tottenham-Rochdale game, then I think we are in danger of taking the emotion out of football.

“The referee is always in charge of the game. He’s always got to make the call, that’s first and foremost. The referee can never be swayed by anything else other than his decision.

“If we put VAR on the big screen then 80,000 or 90,000 people might have a different opinion to everyone else. So it’s a difficult one.”

The Potters, currently 19th, travel to St. Mary’s Stadium to face Southampton on Saturday afternoon in a crunch match at the bottom of the Premier League.

Just three positions and one point separate the pair and Lambert is optimistic about his side’s chances of staying up.

“Our form is really good. I can’t fault the lads the way we’re playing.

“In the last two games we’ve maybe had individual errors, but that happens. We’re playing really well at the minute.

“When I first came in, I said we had 15 cup finals and my view hasn’t changed.

“We’re in good form and I don’t think the results have given us what our performances have merited.

“The league is difficult – one win takes you up, one defeat takes you down.

“I don’t have any fear or trepidation going into games. We’ll go to Southampton and try to win.”